Mary Sullivan

Heavenly Father, we lift up to You our heartfelt prayers,

We know that You are listening, that You are waiting there,

To hear our strong and fervent cries, to answer impassioned pleas,

For our loved ones who seem lost and tossed by stormy seas.

It does seem, by stormy seas, away they have been swept.

We feel like Rachel who, for her children, wailed and sadly wept.

With hands holding sunken heads, we ponder how we’ll cope.

But by folding those same hands in prayer, in You we can find hope.

With that hope, we can begin to see beyond our wails ‘oft loud,

Hope lies hidden for our loved ones, as the sun hides behind the clouds.

We walk not by sight, nor by what, our weary eyes can see.

We walk by faith, ever-believe, the best is yet to be.

Although our souls can seem steeped in the dark of night.

By faith, we carry on, by faith we struggle towards the light.

This evil cast upon our loved ones, and thus upon our families too.

We fight against, by Your grace, we fight for them, for truth, for You.

In Jesus’s name we beg for mercy, on loved ones lost and gone astray.

We pray for, and offer mercy, to those who wounded us on this, or some bygone day.

May each soul keep in clear sight, its last and final end,

May the Spirit be with us, and on us His holy gifts descend.

May mercy transform each hardened heart; hearts seek Your holy call.

Have mercy on each one of us.  Dear Lord, have mercy on us all.

“Pray, pray a great deal and make sacrifices for sinners,

For many souls go to hell,

Because they have no one to pray and make sacrifices for them.”

Our Lady of Fatima; August 19, 1917

Dear child won’t you suffer, suffer for my Son?

Won’t you offer God your suffering, that salvation may be won?

Won’t you with our Lord, feel His pain, yet persevere by grace?

Won’t you journey through this trial, as you run heaven’s holy race?

My child, know you’re not alone, as this cross you bear in stride.

Heaven is right with you, praying near your side.

Won’t you my child feel His scourging, feel the crown upon His head?

Carry your cross, that souls find life, thou they now be in spirit dead?

Won’t you suffer my dear child?  Embrace sorrow when it comes?

Won’t you hang upon your cross in life, that salvation may be won?

I am with you now my child.  I will stay by your side,

Won’t you embrace the painful crown, and not toss it aside?

Dear child, I need soldiers, to bear the thorned crown of my Son.

I need soldiers to fight bravely, of them will you be one?

I need sacrificing soldiers to heal this world so torn with strife.

Won’t you die to yourself, that others find, in my Son, new life?

As you make sacrifices in this earthly land of tears and sorrow.

Never-ending glory waits, in a heavenly tomorrow.

My job is to inform,

Not to convince.

(Saint Bernadette)

Dear Lord, we need strength and grace,

Grace from up above,

To go forth to speak the truth,

To speak the truth, with love.

Give to us Your wisdom,

Fill us with Your light.

Take possession of our speech.

Lord, help us do this right.

Give to us true courage.

We face issues now made gray.

Show to us the way to speak.

Give us the words to say.

Help us, Jesus, to show others—

Without battle, without fight,

That it’s true, can’t be denied,

Some things are black and white.

Help us remember, Jesus,

Of peace, You are our Prince.

Our job is simply to inform.

Our job’s not to convince.

Dear Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ,

May we become true leaven to a Church now torn with strife.

May we walk with kindness, utter not a word untoward.

As in one united voice we cry: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord.”

Blessed are those who walk in Your ways,

who seek to honor You all of their days;

May our words now ring out, in one holy accord,

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord.”

For fear of the Lord is where wisdom starts;

and wisdom is what we’ve ignored.

Let us unite, and all do our part, saying:

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord.”

May the hearts of our loved ones, burn with Christ’s light,

a light that no more will grow dim,

May our loved ones now seek, to do what is right,

with a most holy fear of Him.

May the faith of our loved ones grow stronger each day,

may their love for the Lord be restored.

May they hasten to say, while at work or at play,

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord.”

(Based on Psalms 128:1-2, 4-5)

Jesus made His disciples get in a boat to ride,

To go to Bethsaida, sail to the other side.

He went up a mountain, still during light of day.

He climbed up that mountain.  He went there to pray.

By night, the boat had traveled quite far out to sea.

Jesus alone, back on shore, was calm as He could be.

The disciples’ boat tossed about.   Against strong wind they rowed,

They’d probably much rather been, in some safe, secure abode.

It was the fourth watch of the night, which means three in the morning.

When a miracle would happen.  It happened without warning.

Someone walking on the water; they thought it was a ghost,

They knew not they were looking at the blessed Lord of Hosts.

Then spoke the Lord: “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.”

The disciples were astounded; most likely quite amazed.

He got into the boat with them.  The wind then died down too.

There’s nothing that our good Lord Jesus cannot for us do.

We can feel like inept boaters, rowing on a stormy sea.

The boat is rocking to and fro.  So tossed about are we.

We struggle to persevere; against strong winds, to row.

How we will get through all of this—at times we do not know.

Lord Jesus, walk now to us on our stormy seas.

Calm the fears within.  Help us, in You believe.

Climb into our boats.  Help us be not afraid.

Never leave us, Jesus.  Bring us comfort.  With us stay.

Our loved ones too are on rough seas.  It’s quite a wild ride.

Deceiving waves crash over them.  Lies strike from every side.

Go to them, Lord Jesus.  May it be Your love they know.

Calm the stormy seas.  The truth on them bestow.

Help each loved one love the truth.  Help each one flee from sin.

Help them begin to row with faith.  Give to them strength within.

Be with us sweet Lord Jesus, wherever we may go.

Keep us united in the truth.  Towards heaven, help us row.

(Based on Mark 6:45-52)